A U.S. District Court found Alaska Native corporations can be treated as tribes for limited purposes, while a federal appeals court said they're not eligible for the CARES Act funding. The corporations argue they are interconnected with Alaska Native villages that aren't able to reach everyone, particularly in more urban areas of Alaska. The federal government is consulting with tribes on how to disburse the funding that must be used by the end of 2024. Mills said the Supreme Court case is being watched around Indian Country and by those who study and practice federal law pertaining to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. “It just highlighted the continuing problems and burdens posed by a legacy of federal Indian law on tribal communities," he said.

Source: ABC News April 17, 2021 15:56 UTC